Washing-machine.



W. ERNI.

WASHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 00m), 1911.

1 1 1 6,684, Patented N0v.1(),1914.

I rjma 8%? WALTER ERNI, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

WASHING-MACHINE.

lamest.

specification of Letters Patent.

Patented l iov. 1h, 1914..

Application filed October 9, 1911. ficrial No. 653,488.

To all whom. it may concern Be it known that I, WALTER Earn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Milwaukee, county of ltfiilwaulree, and State of Wisconsin, have invented new and useful Improvements in Washing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in washing machines of the rotary drum type.

The object of my invention is to provide improved means to facilitate removing the clothing after the washing operation.

More specifically, the object of my invention is to provide means whereby the Water containing drum may be opened up below the normal water line after the washing operation has been performed and the water withdrawn.

, In the drawing the figure is an end elevation of a washing machine embodying my invention with the doors in open position.

' A stationary drum 1 serves as a water con taining tank. Within this a rotary clothes containing drum Elis located. The inner drum is mounted upon supporting trunnions 3 having hearings in the end walls of the stationary drum 1 and is driven by any suitable means from a source" of power, preferably through a gear wheel 4 mounted upon the projecting end of one of the trunnions 3. The periphery of the inner drum is formed of slats, having openings between them permitting water to pass through. The outer or water containing drum 1 is provided with a door 6 located above the Water line and connected with the body of the drum by a hinge at 7. The inner drum 2 is provided with a similar door 8. Alhof these parts may be of any ordinary construction, and in washing machines in common use, these doors constitute the only means for inserting and removing clothes. When the door 6 of the outer drum is open the inner drum may be revolved until its door registers with the opening, whereupon this door may also be opened and the clothes inserted or lifted out vertically through the opening. in my improved construction, however, I provide an auxiliary opening in the side of the outer drum 1 and the margins of the drum at the ends of this opening are provided with a metallic connecting and reinforcing member 10. This opening preferably extends the entire length of the drum and the-reinforcing member 10 is arranged to bear against the end walls of the drum as well as upon the ends of the staves at the margins of the opening. At each side of the opening and at each end of the drum, the member 10 is provided with an outwardly projecting e1- bowed arm 12, to which the drum hoops 13 are connected by bolts 1d and projections secured to the hoops, as shown. Said hoops 13 preferably pass underneath the arm 12 and into a recess in the member 10, as indicated by dotted lines, whereby when the bolt 14 is tightened, the projection 15 is drawn toward the arm 12 and the end of the hoop passes into the recess in the member 10.

The opening 17, of which the members 10 and the staves 16 form the margins, is normally closed by a door 18, whith may be formed of stares connected together by a segmental band 19 and provided with suitable packing 20 along those surfaces which abut the member 10. This auxiliary door is hinged to the drum at 21 and when open, is permitted to swing downwardly to substantially a vertical position. When this door is closed, it may be held in closed position by a link 24, which is actuated to, draw the door forcibly into closing position against the members 10 and staves'lll, by a lever 2-5 pivoted to the end of the drum at 9.6. This lever is allowed a slight rocking motion on its pivot pin alongthe line of the drum axis, whereby an inward projection 27 on the lever may be engaged with or disengaged from a toothed segment 28. The link 2% is formed in sections hinged together at 29 and the outer section is provided with a hole 30 adapted to engage over a headed pin 31 at each end of the auxiliary door 18. The hinge at 29 permits the outer section of the link 24 to swing into engagement with said pin 31, or outwardly away from said pin, when it is desired to open the door. To close the door, the lever 25 is adjusted to the position in which it is shown in the figure. The door is then swung to closed position and the outer section of link 2 1 swung inwardly to engage the head of the pin 31, after which lever 25 is swung to the left to draw the. door forcibly into a binding position against the member 10 and the marginal staves of the drum opening. It will be understood that a lever and link 2-1 is employed at each end of the drum. Water may be delivered to, or discharged from the drum through a pipe 15.

The opening closed by the door 6, does not extend to the ends of the drum, but does extend to and forms a continuation ofthe opening 17. When the door 6 is closed, it need not be water tight, since it is located above the waterline, but when the door 18 is closed it must be water tight, since the drum will ordinarily be filled with water nearly to or above the trunnions 3. When the door 18 is open and the lid or door 6 is in a raised position, the inner or clothes receiving drum is rotated until its door registers with the opening 17, whereupon it may be opened and the contents removed without lifting them materially, the bundle of wet clothes being simply rolled out. i

I claim 1. A washing machine comprising an outerstationary water containing drum and an inner rotary clothes receiving drum, said outer drum having a water tight door in the side thereof adapted to be opened below the normal water line of the drum and said inner drum having an opening provided with a door adapted to be brought into registry with the door in the outer drum.

2. A washing machine comprising the combination of a stationary outer water receiving drum, an inner clothes receiving drum, each of said drums being provided with peripheral openings and hinged doors therefor, and said outer drum being provided with an auxiliary opening extending downwardly in the side thereof below the normal water line and provided with a door closing in water-tight relation'to the margins of said opening, and means for binding said door in closed position.

3. The combination with the stationary outer water containing drum of a rotary washing machine provided with a peripheral opening extending below its normal water line, of a door closing the portion of said opening above the water line, another door closing a portion of the. opening below the water line, suitable packing for preventing the escape of water ast the margins of said last mentione door when closed, and means for binding said door upon said packing. Y

4. The combination with the stationary outer water containing drum of a rotary washing machine provided with a peripheral opening extending below its normal water line, of a door closing the. portion of said opening above the Water line, another door closing a portion of the opening below the water line, suitable packing for pre venting the escape of water ast the margins of said last mentione door when closed, and means for binding said door upon said packing, comprising a manually actuated lever, having link connections movable laterally into and out of engagement withthe ends of the door and radially to bind the door upon said packing.

5. The combination with a stationary outer water containing drum of a rotary washing machine having an opening extending longitudinally of said drum and in the side thereof below the normal water line, of a metal reinforcing member at each end of said drum lining the walls of said opening, a band encircling the drum and having its ends adjustably connected with said reinforcing member, a door for said opening adapted to form a water tight closure therefor, and means for binding said door in a closed position.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

WALTER ERNI.

Witnesses i Lnvnan'r'r C. WHEELER, 1. D. BREMER. 

